Display-easel.



No. 851,571. PATENTED APR. 2a. 1907.

J. B. TIMBERLAKE.

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BSHEETB-SHE-ET 1.

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No. 851.571. PATENTED APR. 23. 1907.

J. B. TIMBERLAKB.

DISPLAY BASEL.

APPLICATION FILED r23. as, 1905.

2 SHEETB SHEET 2.

511mm n69 nu: newer: PE.'ER$ cm. wAsnmcnm, n. c.

JOHN B. TIMBERIIAKE, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

DlSPLAY-EASEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed February 28,1905. Serial No. 247,711- I This inventionrelates to devices of the display sort generally referred to as easels,they being stands or supports adapted to hold articles of any of variousstyles, and largely used for exhibition purposes.

One of the purposes of the invention is to provide a stand or easel ofthis class which l end of this side part 0 there is a table engagshallcomprise parts that are adjustable in relation to each other, and whichat the same time shall automatically lock, positively, the movable partsafter they have been put in some desirable position of adjustment.

Another of the objects is to provide an article of this sort which shallbe tasty in appearance and of little cost in manufacture.

The several purposes aimed at and the method of making and usingarticles em- I bodying my improvement will be readily understood fromthe drawings and the description given below.

Figure 1 is a perspective of an easel or holder of one form embodying myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of twoof the parts interlocked and shown on a large scale. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the line 9;, :c, Fig. 2. Figs.

4 and 5 are perspectives of modified forms. Fig. 6 shows a part of theeasel in Fig. 4 on a larger scale. Fig. 7 is a side view of a part ofFig. 5 on a larger scale. Fig. 8 is a side view showing anothermodification.

The article in either of the several forms shown consists of twoprincipal elements, one of Wllifll may be considered as a base part, andthe other may be regarded as an upright part adapted to engage with andsupport the back of a dish or other article. These elements areadjustable in relation to each other, the upright being adapted to beplaced in either of several positions forward or backward relatively onthe base element. It has been heretofore proposed to make easels ordisplay stands having elements of this sort, broadly considered. But Ihave found that serious trouble is frequently incident to holders orstands of this sort, there being no positive lock provided to hold theupright part in the selected position, the consequence being that thereis sometimes breakage and always a liability for breakage of dishes orfragile articles resting against the upright and standing on the base,these articles in many instances being of considerable value. Thisserious di'lliculty I have succeeded in overcoming by improvements ofthe character herein presented.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the letter A indicates one of theelements of the easel and the letter B the other. The base part oreleine nt B is preferably formed of a single piece of wire so shaped asto provide a side part C at each side of the easel, this side parthaving two wire sections or bars b, I). At the rear ing rest or foot 1),preferably provided by forming a loop in that part of the wire whichconnects the sections or bars I), I). At the 5 front of the easel theside parts are connected by table rests or foot rests 1), these in Figs.1 and 2 being shown as provided by bending down the wire extendingforward from the side sections 1). The front ends of the side parts Care connected by a cross arm or bar I) which may be carried over fromside to side on a horizontal line at the bottom of the down bent partsthereby giving an elongated, steadying and bracing rest on the table.The sections or bars I) of the side parts i are preferably somewhatinside of and somewhat below the sections or bars I), and at their frontends are so shaped as to provide stops or rests for the front edge ofthe dish or article which is held on the easel, which shaping mayconsist in imparting to the ends an upward bond or loop as shown-at I).By having the side parts O of the easel made thus with a higher andouter support 1), Z) for' dish edges, and an inner or lower support I),b I can furnish an easel-which has great range with respect to the sizesof the articles that can be supported, one of small diameter will haveits edges resting upon the inner support b, I), while one of a largerdiameter can rest upon the outer and higher bars or sections 1), b, andin each case the dish will be supported at points near the bottom partof its edge which is desirable. The back element or upright A of theholder is formed with the vertical legs (L connected together at theirupper ends in any suitable manner, as by a cross section a of wire; andat their lower ends they are formed with loops or eyes a, which engagewith the wire sections or bars I) of the base element. At a bends areformed between the eyes a and the upper parts of the legs a, these bendsthrowing the planes of the eyes 0, at an angle to the plane of the upperpart of the upright, whereby the locking of the element A in position onthe base B is partially effected. But I have found that this cannot bedepended upon for firmly holding the parts against slippage. To insure apositive look I, in constructions such as shown in Figs. 1., 2 and 3,form recesses in the wire sections or bars I), as shown at 6 These maybe made in either of several ways; but preferably, prior to the bendingof the 'wires into form, indentations are made in dies of propercharacter. But this may be accomplished after the base parts have beenput into their final shape. These are of such depth and shape that whenthe eyes a fit into them the upright A is looked under all ordinarycircumstances against movement, particularly locked against movementrearward, and a dish or other fragile article resting against it issecured against slippage or breakage.

In Figs. 4 and 6 I have illustrated a modification of the invention; inthis case the positive locking of the upright part in its positions ofadjustment being attained by forming crimps or bends in the horizontalwire section or bar (1 of the base element, these crimps or bendsproviding recesses d on the under side with the edges of which the eyesor loops 0 of the upright can positively engage in such way as toovercome the possibility of slipping. In other respects the parts of theeasel or holder in Figs. 4 and 6 are the same as those above described,the base element B having side parts C, each comprising a wire sectionor bar (Z and the aforesaid locking section d with the foot (Z at therear, the down turned parts (Z at the front connected by the cross part42, and the bars (1 terminating in stop loops The parts of the uprightindicated respectively by c, c, c are similar to the corresponding partsabove described in the construction in Fig. 1.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 7 the same general ends areattained; in this case the locking of the upright being effected bycoiling or twisting a supplemental or second wire D around or with thehorizontally disposed dish supporting wire or bar 6. As shown the coilsor twists are so formed as to provide stoplike devices at c with whichthe eyes of the upright positively engage, and which prevent the latterfrom slipping backward under the weight of the dish or other articlewhich bears backward against the upright. Not only is there a positivelock for the upright provided in this case, but the wires can becoiledior twisted in such way as to give a highly ornamental and tastyappearance to the easel. In other respects the stand or easel shown inFigs. 5 and 7 is the same as that in Fig. 1, the parts of the baseelement B indicated by C 6, e, (2 e e a being similar to correspondingparts in the other construction; and similarly with respect to theupright element A its parts f, f, f, f are the same as those in thedevice first described.

In Fig. 8 a stand essentially similar to that in Figs. 5 and 7 is shown,the difference being that here the doubling of the wires is extendedthroughout the article along the parts g, 9 "g, g g, in order to give ita uniform appearance throughout, but the twists or bends of the wiresbeing so arranged that the positive lock of the upright can be effectedat whatever points are desired in the same manner as accomplished in theother constructions. 7

While I have above more particularly referred to the use of the stand oreasel in connection with dishes, it is to be understood that I do notlimit it to any particular use or class of articles, as it can beemployed for supporting and displaying others than those mentioned asbooks, cards, pictures, 620.

It will be seen that the eyes at the lower ends of the legs of the backelement A are larger than the side bars they encircle so that they willslide freely over the side bars in either direction when the part A istilted slightly forward; but when the back is inclined rearward the eyesbindupon the side bars, engaging with the opposite sides there of, andcoacting with the notches or other expedients employed. to lock theback, upward-extending element, the weight of the article displayed, asit rests against the back, operating to hold the back in the positionlast referred to. The bearing point of an eye that engages with theunder side of a side bar 'is in advance of the bearing point thatengages with the upper side thereof (instead of beingopposite eachother, as would be the case did the eye fit the bar snugly) with theresult that the upright element is held securely and firmly, though by aloose connection.

What I claim is 1. I11 a display easel, the combination of an uprightsupporting element bodily adjustable forward and back and also arrangedto be slightly tilted forward and back, and provided at its lowerportions with eyes or loops, and a base element having side barsextending through the said eyes or loops of the upright element, thesaid bars being smaller than the eyes, whereby when the upright ele mentis tilted forward it is loose upon the base and free to be moved forwardand back relative thereto, the side bars of the base ele ment beingprovided with stops with which the loops of the upright element areadapted to engage when the latter is tilted backward but over which theyfreely slide when it is tilted forward, whereby the upright element maybe locked when in position for use, substantially as set forth.

2. In a display easel, the combination of elements A and B, the baseelement B having gagement with the parallel side parts ol the base,andthe base having at the front stops or holders for the lower edges ofthe dishes or articles, substantially as set forth.

3. In a display easel, in combination a base element having parallelside parts as C, C, provided with table rests or feet at one end andwith a depressed cross connecting table engaging bar I) at the otherend, and with upwardly extending stops or supports for the lower edgesof the dishes, and an upright element having legs or approximatelyvertical bars at the sides, a connecting bar at the top, and slidingconnections at the bottom fitted to the base part, substantially as setforth.

l. In a display easel, the combination of a base element and an uprightelement adjust able forward and back on the base element, the baseelement having on each side two longitudinally arrai'igeiil bars orsections as at I), I), one relatively nearer the central longitudinalplane of the easel than the other, substantially as set forth.

5. In a displaj easel, the combination of a base element and uprightelement, adjust able bodily longitudinally of the base element, the baseelement being formed with the two longitudinal sections or bars b, l) oneach side oil the base, the side parts of the base having feet or tablerests at the front and rear, and the upright element being fitted to andsliding upon the bars l) of the side parts, substantial y as set forth.

In testimony whereof 1 al'lix my signature in presence oi two witnesses.

, JOHN B. TIMBERLAKE. Vitnesses VERNE BADGLEY, GRACE A. LAvim'rr.

